Philadelphia 76ers Notebook: Bynum readying his return

Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum is shown during a news conference where he was introduced in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. Bynum was traded to the 76ers from the Los Angeles Lakers. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

PHILADELPHIA — Andrew Bynum still doesn’t have a particular date circled for his debut for the 76ers, though he said he’s closing in on it. Oh, and then there’s this...

“I dunked (Sunday),” Bynum said. “I was happy to know I could still do that, which is good. Just taking it really, really slow.”

Bynum spoke to reporters Monday, before the Sixers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies, and — as his dunk comment would indicate — he seems to be readying for his return. The injured center said he’s more likely to play his first game after the All-Star Game Feb. 17, rather than before it.

It stands to reason that debuting Feb. 13 at Milwaukee would be Bynum’s best option, with a week between games because of All-Star festivities. However, Bynum said the first game after the All-Star break — Feb. 20 at Minnesota — gives him more flexibility in his rehab schedule.

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“To me, it doesn’t really matter when I come back,” he said. “Giving myself a full, other week of training is going to be better than trying to come back before that.”

While Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo said it’s possible Bynum could practice with the team by the end of the week, Bynum said he hasn’t spoken to his doctors about that. Up to now, Bynum has practiced only in individual workouts, taking shooting practice after the Sixers conclude their sessions.

In a 90-second Q-and-A with reporters, Bynum said he “did sprints today,” though it was unclear whether those were on the court or on the team’s antigravity treadmill. He said next up is “slides,” presumably side-to-side movement.

So is Bynum where he expected to be at this point?

“I’m a little bit farther ahead. I honestly believe that,” Bynum said. “Earlier, before I started getting better, I thought I’d have to play through a lot of pain, but the pain is subsiding a bit, which is good.”

It seems as though Bynum is progressing setback-free through the rehab schedule the Sixers set out for him. And there’s no intention on skipping any of those steps.

“We have a program. We’re staying with the program,” DiLeo said in pregame. “We’re this far into it, so we’re not going to take any shortcuts now.

“The most critical part of his program is coming up. Once he gets out there in basketball action — against defenders, running, cutting, jumping — that’s a critical part to see how he reacts to that.”

The anticipation level surrounding Bynum’s return has been palpable the last few days.

Associate coach Michael Curry used the word “exciting” Sunday at practice, a day after hinting that having a player of Jrue Holiday’s caliber to pair with Bynum “for a long time” was “good for the organization.”

Bynum worked out in front of reporters Jan. 14, when he followed up stationary shot-taking drills with pinpointing the All-Star break in mid-February as a likely time to return.

“You can always tell when guys start feeling better,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said. “When you’re hurt, you don’t feel like you’re part of the team. It’s a very helpless feeling. I think Andrew is starting to get more with his teammates at shootarounds with our guys, walking through things and shooting around a little bit. I get a sense that he’s getting that feeling of being back in the mix, which is nice.”

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Jason Richardson is out again, missing his fourth straight game with left knee synovitis. The shooting guard said he might be able to return by Friday. Shelvin Mack is back, at least for another week and a half. The Butler product inked another 10-day deal with the Sixers, who must sign him for the remainder of the season or waive him by the time his contract expires.